Monsanto pledges $4 million toward honeybee health efforts

St. Louis-based Monsanto plans to commit $4 million during the next three years to help address the collapse of the U.S. honeybee population.

The company has support from the Keystone Center, American Honey Producers Associatoin, American Beekeeping Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Project Apis m. and several commodity groups.

Joining them will be a coalition comprising other individuals involved in honeybee health as well as industry groups, governmental agencies, environmental groups and agricultural companies.

Monsanto made the pledge during the recent Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York.

The efforts will involve on-the-ground practices to restore and protect honeybee populations.

The commitment will tackle four main issues: bee parasites and pathogens, improving bee nutrition, the effects of pesticides and agricultural practices, and the economic empowerment of beekeepers, according to a news release.

Honeybee health has grabbed headlines recently as beekeepers have seen a dramatic plunge in overwintering colonies since 2006.

Many blame colony collapse disorder, which causes bees to disappear from an otherwise health colony.

Many researchers say they believe that several factors combined, and not one specifically, is to blame for bee disappearance.

Honebees are critical for pollinating numerous agricultural crops. Without them, for example, the California almond industry wouldn't be enjoying the nearly 2 billion pound annual production it is.